Cancellation Policy (Schools)

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Our Policy

Thank you for choosing Skillseed as a business partner. Cash flow is critically important to us and our beneficiaries, as a lot of work starts way before each course actually takes place. To be fair to our community partners and our staff, we may, depending on the specific situation, decline to work with clients who do not or cannot place an upfront deposit and/or pay the full amount upfront.

Skillseed supports many different community partners across different countries, most of them developing. Payment upon completion of the course with long credit term conditions means delaying disbursements to our community partners and beneficiaries for months. In their situation, as you can imagine, any delay could be critical.

Skillseed prides ourselves in channeling funds to our community partners first. This is not just a business for us – this is about supporting livelihoods. To this end we believe we have a fair cancellation and refund policy, and welcome any suggestions on how we can improve. We thank you for respecting the way we work and for supporting our commitment to fair practices.

These Terms and Conditions stated here are considered acknowledged and agreed to by the School when an Award Notice is given or when a Purchase Order (or any form of course acceptance) is issued to Skillseed (the Company).

Cancellation & Refund Terms

The course fees for each course are based on a minimum number of participants. Prices may be adjusted if there is any decrease in the number of participants below the stated minimum requirement.

a. Deposit and Confirmation

For Singapore-based Schools: These Terms and Conditions stated here are considered acknowledged and agreed to by the School when an AWARD Notice is given or when a Purchase Order is issued to Skillseed (the Company).

In order for the Company to proceed to confirm the booking, a non-refundable deposit of at least 30% for MOE Framework School groups OR a non-refundable deposit of 50% for non-MOE Framework School groups is payable within 14 days of receipt of the Award Notice or Purchase Order. This is assuming that the reservation is made at least 1 month prior to your departure date.

Should the departure date be less than 30 days from your confirmation date, 100% of the course costs will be due in lieu of a deposit.

The Company accepts payment by cheques (made out to “Skillseed Pte. Ltd.”), bank transfers or via Giro on Vendors@gov.

For Schools based outside of Singapore: In order for the Company to proceed to confirm the booking and to reduce transaction fees, the full payment (100%) of the course fees will be required once a Purchase Order or written acceptance of the course is issued to Skillseed.

The Company accepts payment by telegraphic transfers or by Paypal.

b. Rest of payment

The remaining 70% or 50% of the course fees shall be billed 1 week prior to the programme start date (starting from any PRE-TRIP training sessions), to be paid within 14 days of receiving the invoice.

c. Purchase of Air Tickets and Airport Charges, Surcharges & Taxes

Kindly note: if packages include purchase of air tickets, the Company and thus the School, is subject to the specific terms and conditions of the airfare involved. Full payment for the air ticket and its relevant taxes is usually required, especially so in the case of promotional airfares or that of budget carriers. Full payment for the cost of the air ticket & taxes will be required before the ticket/s can or will be issued to the School. Airfare and taxes are always subject to changes. In the event of a default in effecting payment of the balance sum by the said time period, the Company can, at its sole discretion, cancel the reservation and forfeit any payment done beforehand; the School shall also waive all rights of recourse against the Company.

d. Travel Insurance

For Singapore-based schools: With effect from July 14 2015, Singapore Tourism Board has imposed an additional licensing condition. STB encourages outbound consumers to purchase travel insurance that insures them against travel agent insolvency. Such insurance should insure consumers against any failure or disruption in the provision of the travel product arising from travel agent insolvency. As such, all guests are required to advise the decision of purchasing insurance by completing an attached form (will be emailed to the school and/or individual travellers) before collection of first payment.

e. Cancellation & Refund Policy by the Company

The Company reserves the sole right to cancel any course due to insufficient number of participants or due to factors beyond the reasonable control of the Company such as, but not limited to, natural disasters, epidemics, pandemics, labour strikes, war, civil unrest and disorders, etc. In the unlikely event of a tour cancellation, the Company shall endeavor to notify the School at the soonest possible time, especially if the cancellation is due to factors beyond the reasonable control of the Company. The Company shall therefore attempt to recommend or provide alternatives for your consideration but should you decide not to accept the alternatives, you shall be entitled to a refund of all monies paid by you to the Company after deducting expenses incurred (if any) for visa/s, travel insurance or other applications made on your behalf. If air ticketing is involved, there are cancellation and amendment fees to abide by and these charges will be borne by the School. Neither party shall have any claims against the other thereafter.

f. Cancellation by the School

The School may cancel the reservation at any time provided notice of cancellation is given in writing. As the Company would have gone ahead to make the necessary arrangements for your trip as agreed upon earlier, the following cancellation charges and cancellation fees must be borne by the School and the travelling party:

· For cancellations received at least 15 – 30 days prior to departure – 50% of the package cost or the deposit amount, whichever is higher

· For cancellations received less than 14 days prior to departure or No Show – 100% of the package cost

· For any cancellations, an administrative fee of 20 dollars per student or teacher shall apply

In the event that tour arrangements were confirmed with a supplier using a different set of cancellation/booking terms (for example, low cost carriers), from those stated above, the stricter terms will be applicable.

In any situation where the Ministry of Health or Ministry of Education, or Government authorities, issues a travel advisory/restriction to the destination, the standard cancellation fees will still apply. No refund will be made and the school/organization will be invoiced for the cancellation fees. It is at the Company’s discretion to amend the cancellation fees on a case-by-case basis.

The Company cannot be held responsible for the non-recoverable expenses or miscellaneous surcharges incurred by the School/s in preparation of the trip. Such expenses (by the School/s) include the advance purchase of air tickets, visa fees, medical checks or medications/ vaccinations, gear/equipment etc.

g. Refund of Unused Services During Course of Trip

Should the School/s decide not to utilize the accommodation, meals, transportation, land tours, or other services already included in the package tour during the course of the tour, no refund or exchange shall be allowed. Any additional costs due to transportation, meals and/or accommodation, will be borne by the School.

h. Changes, Transfers & Deviations

The School is requested to minimize any changes or deviations after a trip reservation has been made as it may impact the agreements made by the Company. Whilst the Company will endeavour to accommodate any proposed requests for a change made by you (provided that adequate prior notice in writing is given), the Company reserves to itself, the right to impose an administrative charge (of min S$50/pax/change) for these services. Amendments to your reservation can only be made up to 14 days prior to departure from Singapore.

If changes are made less than 30 days prior to departure, a higher administrative fee will be imposed, subject to the type of changes that the School is making to the program. If the proposed change or deviation results in a cancellation of a booking or part thereof, the cancellation charges shall be borne by the School/s.

i. Changes Initiated by the Company

The Company shall make every effort possible to avoid changes in the itinerary but should changes be necessary due to factors beyond the reasonable control of the Company including (but not limited to), war, civil disorder, viral outbreaks, changes in airline schedules, weather or local conditions, the Company shall be entitled to do so subject to notice being given as soon as possible and the Company shall endeavour to substitute a suitable arrangement of similar standard and the School shall have no entitlement to compensation of any form. Please note that additional charges may apply for alternative packages.

j. Conditions of Carriage

In all cases, where a component of the tour includes travel on scheduled flights in aircrafts or schedule routes in all other modes of travel (be it by train or bus), your attention is drawn to the fact that the Company has no direct control over the changes in the schedules or the manner in which these services are provided and performed, and hence, you, the School, agree that you will not hold the Company responsible for the same.

k. Company Acting as Agent

In all cases where the Company acts as an agent for a principal such as in cases of flight, vehicle-hire or hotel reservations, the Company will not accept any responsibility for any default, delay or deficiency on the part of the principal. In such events, you expressly agree to seek recourse against the principal directly and to the extent as may be allowed by law, you expressly waive all rights against the Company.

l. Third Party Providers

We incorporate and rely on the services of airlines, transport companies and other third party service providers for our courses. These Terms and Conditions and all arrangements or bookings relating to the course are additionally subject, in every respect, to any terms and conditions that may be imposed by these third party service providers. Whilst we will endeavour to render reasonable assistance to our Customers wherever possible, we have no control over these third party service providers and shall not be liable, in any way, for any changes made by or acts or omissions on the part of such third party service providers in connection with any course.

m. Responsibility

In respect of these services provided, the Company only accepts responsibility for such services over which it has full and direct control. The Company does not accept liability of responsibility for any acts, omissions or defaults of other service providers unless the same could have been reasonably avoided by the Company or unless the same is caused directly by the negligence of the Company, its servants or agents.

n. Limitations & Exclusions

The Company shall be entitled to rely upon and invoke all limitations and exclusions of liability under all appropriate international conventions and nothing herein contained shall operate to defeat or diminish the Company’s rights in that respect.

o. Rights, Disclaimers and Indemnity relating to courses

Without limiting any other provision of these Terms and Conditions, to the fullest extent permitted by law, we shall not be responsible or assume any liability to any participant or teacher for: (a) any injury, damage, loss or delay affecting any person or property not arising from our own negligence or breach; (b) any loss, damage, cost, expense or delay suffered or incurred due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to: (i) actions or omissions of third parties (including any applicable third party service providers); (ii) mechanical breakdowns; (iii) a Force Majeure Event; (iv) a failure by the participant or teacher to comply with any of his or her obligations hereunder; (v) a failure by the participant or teacher to possess, obtain or maintain any travel documentation required for the course (e.g. health certificates, visas, valid passports, etc.); (vi) a failure by the participant or teacher to follow reasonable instructions, including but not limited to noting and complying with specified check-in and check-out and/or meeting places and times.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, our maximum liability to any participant or teacher for any loss, damage, cost and/or expense shall in no event exceed the amount of the Package Course fare paid to and received by us in respect of such Customer or traveller. In no event shall we be liable for any punitive, special, indirect or consequential loss or damage, including loss of production, profit, revenue or contract or loss of or damage to goodwill or reputation.

We reserve the right to withdraw any itinerary or any reservation made and/or to decline or refuse any individual as a member of the course, if it appears to us, in our absolute discretion, that such individual is likely to endanger the health or safety, or impair the comfort and enjoyment of the other members of the course. You agree to indemnify us, our affiliates and our respective facilitators, directors and employees, immediately on demand, against all claims, liabilities, damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees (on a full indemnity basis), arising out of any breach of these Terms and Conditions by you.

p. Force Majeure

The Company does not accept any responsibility whether in contract or in tort for any injury, damage, loss or expenses caused directly or indirectly by force majeure or other events which are beyond the reasonable control of the Company or which are unavoidable by the exercise of due diligence on the Company’s part including but not limited to war, strike, industrial action, civil disorders, floods, earthquakes, severe weather conditions, outbreak & spread of viral diseases, acts of God, acts of Government (local or overseas) or any other authorities.

q. Security and Safety Concerns

As different departure points and arrival destinations would have varying security requirements, the School/s are required to comply with the said requirement and the Company shall not be responsible if the School/s should be delayed or refused entry by any country or authorities for any reason whatsoever. For the safety of all members of the tour group, the Company, through its representative/s shall be empowered to deal with any tour member (in consultation with the organizer/teacher in charge) in an appropriate manner (including requiring the said tour member to exercise restraint or leave the group) if such a person should act or misbehave in a manner which is unreasonable, violent or detrimental to the enjoyment, interest and safety of the other tour members. In such a situation, the Company shall not entertain any claims for refund or compensation.

r. Third Party Rights

For the purposes of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act and notwithstanding any other provisions set forth in this document, this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, give any person who is not a party to it, any right to enforce any of its provisions.

s. Confidentiality and Privacy

We will comply with all relevant obligations under the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (“PDPA”) governing the collection, use, disclosure and care of your personal data in accordance with our privacy statement. We may take photographs and videos of participants participating in our courses for our advertising and publicity materials (e.g. course catalogue) and by joining our courses, all participants shall be deemed to have consented to such collection and/or use on our part. Notwithstanding, any participant who wishes to withdraw his or her consent to our collection or use of any photographs or videos that may feature such participant, may notify us at info@skillseed.sg, whereupon we will endeavour, as soon as reasonably practicable, to remove any reference to such participant from our advertising and publicity materials and/or related media programmes; provided always that we shall not be liable to recall or change any such materials or media programmes which have been produced, publicly distributed or disseminated by us prior to receiving such notice.

t. Claims & Dispute Resolution

Should the School have any complaints, it is desirable that the same be notified to the Company immediately so that action/s may be taken to resolve the complaint expeditiously. The School’s complaint should be in writing (either by letter or email) and forwarded to the Company no later than 7 days upon completion of the trip.

u. Severability of Terms & Conditions

Each provision herein is intended to be separate and independent of the others and in the event should any of the provisions herein be determined or adjudged to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions herein shall be unimpaired and shall continue to apply.

v. Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Republic of Singapore and the parties expressly submit themselves to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Singapore.